Pelargonium plant named &#39;pacpilace&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct Zonal Geranium plant named ‘Pacpilace’, characterized by its upright and uniformly rounded plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely basal branching habit; medium green-colored leaves; early and freely flowering habit; and light purplish red-colored semi-double flowers with purplish red-colored margins that are held above the foliar plane on strong peduncles.

Botanical designation: Pelargonium x hortorum.

Cultivar denomination: ‘PACPILACE’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Zonal Geranium plant, botanically known as Pelargonium x hortorum, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Pacpilace’.

The new Zonal Geranium plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Dresden, Germany. The objective of the breeding program is to develop new uniform and early-flowering Zonal Geranium plants with medium green-colored leaves and numerous attractive flowers.

The new Zonal Geranium plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor of two unidentified proprietary selections of Pelargonium x hortorum, not patented, during the summer of 2016. Seed was collected from a number of potential parent plants, combined and sown. The new Zonal Geranium plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated mass cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Dresden, Germany during the summer of 2017.

Asexual reproduction of the new Zonal Geranium plant by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Dresden, Germany since January, 2018 has shown that the unique features of this new Zonal Geranium plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Pacpilace’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Pacpilace’ as a new and distinct Zonal Geranium plant:

-   -   1. Upright and uniformly rounded plant habit.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely basal branching habit.     -   4. Medium green-colored leaves.     -   5. Early and freely flowering habit.     -   6. Light purplish red-colored semi-double flowers with purplish         red-colored margins that are held above the foliar plane on         strong peduncles.

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium can be compared to plants of the Pelargonium x hortorum ‘Pactina’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,778. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Zonal Geranium differ from plants of ‘Pactina’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium are larger than plants of         ‘Pactina’.     -   2. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium are not as erect as plants         of ‘Pactina’.     -   3. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium flower later than plants of         ‘Pactina’.     -   4. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium have flatter flowers than         plants of ‘Pactina’.     -   5. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium have light purplish         red-colored flowers with purplish red-colored margins whereas         plants of ‘Pactina’ have light pink-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Zonal Geranium plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Zonal Geranium plant. The photograph is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Pacpilace’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in 19-cm containers during the spring, summer and autumn in a glass-covered greenhouse in Dresden, Germany and under cultural practices typical of commercial Zonal Geranium production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 18° C., night temperatures averaged 16° C. and light levels ranged from 15 klux to 100 klux. Plants were four months old when the photograph was taken and nine months old when the detailed description was taken. In the following detailed description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Pelargonium x hortorum ‘Pacpilace’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Unidentified proprietary selection             of Pelargonium x hortorum, not patented.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Unidentified proprietary selection of             Pelargonium x hortorum, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 18 days at             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 22 days at             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About four             weeks at temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four             weeks at temperatures about 18° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically white in color,             actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate             composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate             temperature and age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright and uniformly rounded plant             habit; inverted triangle; densely foliated; vigorous growth             habit; rapid growth rate; freely basal branching habit with             about six primary lateral branches each with about two             secondary lateral branches developing per plant; pinching is             typically not required.         -   Plant height, to top of foliar plane.—About 24 cm.         -   Plant height, to top of floral plane.—About 38 cm.         -   Plant width.—About 50 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 17 cm. Diameter: About 8 mm.             Internode length: About 1 cm. Strength: Strong. Texture and             luster: Densely pubescent; semi-glossy. Color, developing:             Close to 144B. Color, developed: Close to 146B. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite and alternate; simple.         -   Length.—About 4.7 cm.         -   Width.—About 7.4 cm.         -   Shape.—Rounded; roughly reniform.         -   Apex.—Rounded.         -   Base.—Cordate, open.         -   Margin.—Crenate with shallow and divergent indentations.         -   Venation pattern.—Palmate.         -   Texture and luster, upper surface.—Pubescent, rough;             coriaceous; matte.         -   Texture and luster, lower surface.—Pubescent; coriaceous;             semi-glossy.         -   Color.—Developing and fully expanded leaves, upper surface:             Close to 137A; venation, close to 137A; no discernible             zonation pattern. Developing and fully expanded leaves,             lower surface: Close to 146B; venation, close to 146C.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 5.6 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent;             rough; matte. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to             146B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement and flowering habit.—Semi-double flowers             arranged in roughly hemispherical umbels arising from apical             leaf axils; umbels displayed above the foliar plane on             strong peduncles; flowers face mostly upright to outwardly             depending on position in the umbel; freely flowering habit             with about 30 open flowers per umbel and numerous umbels             developing per plant during the flowering season.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Flowering season.—Early flowering habit; plants begin             flowering about 85 days after planting; in the garden in             Germany, flowering begins in April and continues until frost             in the autumn.         -   Flower longevity.—Flowers last about six to ten days on the             plant; umbels last about three to four weeks on the plant;             flowers persistent.         -   Umbel height.—About 6 cm.         -   Umbel diameter.—About 12 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 4.7 cm by 4.7 cm.         -   Flower depth (height).—About 1.2 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 6 mm. Diameter: About 4 mm.             Shape: Elliptic. Texture and luster: Pubescent; semi-glossy.             Color: Close to 144A.         -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: About ten; petals imbricate.             Length, upper petal: About 2.6 cm. Length, lower petal:             About 2.4 cm. Width, upper petals: About 1.7 cm. Width,             lower petals: About 2 cm. Shape: Obovate. Apex: Rounded.             Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire; slightly undulate. Texture             and luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; semi-glossy.             Texture and luster, lower surface: Smooth, glabrous; glossy.             Color: When opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close             to lighter than 65D; towards the margins, close to 63B;             venation, close to 63B; colors becoming closer to 155D with             subsequent development. When opening and fully opened, lower             surface: Close to 65D; venation, close to 63B; color             becoming closer to 155D with subsequent development.         -   Petaloids.—Quantity per flower: If present, up to two.             Length: About 5 mm to 10 mm. Width: About 2 mm. Shape:             Irregular. Apex: Rounded to acute. Base: Rounded to cuneate.             Margin: Entire; highly undulate. Texture and luster, upper             surface: Smooth, glabrous; semi-glossy. Texture and luster,             lower surface: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Color: When opening             and fully opened, upper surface: Close to lighter than 65D;             towards the margins, close to 63B; venation, close to 63B;             colors becoming closer to 155D with subsequent development.             When opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close to 65D;             venation, close to 63B; color becoming closer to 155D with             subsequent development.         -   Sepals.—Calyx length: About 8 mm. Calyx diameter: About             1.7 cm. Quantity per flower: Five arranged in a single             whorl; not fused. Length: About 8 mm. Width: About 2 mm to             3 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate.             Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper surface: Glabrous;             glossy. Texture and luster, lower surface: Pubescent;             glossy. Color, when developing, upper and lower surfaces:             Close to 144A. Color, fully developed, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to 144A.         -   Peduncles (umbel stems).—Length: About 15 cm. Diameter:             About 4 mm. Strength: Strong. Angle: Mostly upright to             slightly outwardly. Texture and luster: Pubescent; glossy.             Color: Close to 144A.         -   Pedicels (individual flower stems).—Length: About 4 cm.             Diameter: About 1 mm. Strength: Moderately strong; flexible.             Texture and luster: Pubescent; glossy. Color: Close to 144A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity per flower:             About nine. Filament length: About 5 mm. Filament color:             Close to 155D; towards the apex, close to 57D. Anther size:             About 0.5 mm by 1 mm. Anther shape: Tubular. Anther color:             Close to 61B. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen color: Close             to 169C.         -   Gynoecium.—Pistil quantity per flower: One. Pistil length:             About 7 mm. Stigma diameter: About 3 mm. Stigma shape: Five             or six-parted. Stigma color: Close to 45B. Style length:             About 3 mm. Style color: Close to 45D. Ovary color: Close to             148C.         -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit development have             not been observed on plants of the new Zonal Geranium. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Zonal     Geranium have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and     pests common to Zonal Geranium plants. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Zonal Geranium have been     observed to tolerate temperatures ranging from about 0.5° C. to     about 40° C. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Zonal Geranium plant named ‘Pacpilace’ as illustrated and described. 